I started a new semester of intermediate German at the community college (Volkshochschule). There are students from: Belarus, Ukraine, Russia, Kenya, Brazil, Turkey and Mongolia. We, of course, had a round of introductions. Names with far too many syllables or consonants were stumbled over. Almost everyone there, except me, can speak at least 2 other language in addition to German.
But the big tongue twister tonight? My home state of 'Massachusetts'.
I told them not to feel bad; I'd had decades to practice it.
Monday, February 16, 2009
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
We three kings (and a little princess)
I alluded, in the last post, to an event in which I'd be takin
g the kids around the neighborhood (not murdering them). This was the "Star Singing", in which local kids, under the aegis of the Catholic Church, ring each doorbell and offer a blessing for the new year. Peter, with friends Julian and Luis, covered our street this year - by my estimate, over 200 doorbells were pushed. They were accompanied on one day by honorary princess Anke. I'm especially proud that we visited almost all the apartment buildings - the little old ladies were so happy to see the kids, even though they often stumble
d over lines (you can see Luis/Melchior below, posing with the cheat-sheet), and only once could be convinced to earn the title "Star Singers". When the blessing was complete, one of the kids would write on the house (in chalk; all the houses are stone here): 20 + C*M*B + 09. I used to think the initials were for Caspar, Melichior and Balthazhar, the 3 kings, but I have learned it means Christus Mansionem Benedictat, or Christ Bless this House. The numbers, the year. On the local houses 
you could see years' worth of childish scribblings next to the door.
People really got into it. Several people asked especially when we'd be s
topping by so they could be there. Some people going on vacation left an envelope with the neighbors. The only (moderately) unfriendly people we encountered were some self-avowed Protestants who just wanted to through a little money in and have the kids go away. Many more said "We're Protestant but we always love this!".
We went out on two afternoons, Jan 3 and 4th, in bitter cold, and quit shortly before finishing up the entire street because it was threatening to snow (eventually paralyzing the lower Rhine with 5 inches of powder).
People were throwing in bills left and right. One little girl emptied her piggybank.
They collected almost 500 Euros. And about 10 pounds of treats, "to reward these sweet little boys". That was collected by the church and sent on to orphans in Romania (I'm not kidding about that!). The money when to African missions. The boys, despite the frozen noses and stingy-with-the-treats chaperone (me), all signed up for next year.
g the kids around the neighborhood (not murdering them). This was the "Star Singing", in which local kids, under the aegis of the Catholic Church, ring each doorbell and offer a blessing for the new year. Peter, with friends Julian and Luis, covered our street this year - by my estimate, over 200 doorbells were pushed. They were accompanied on one day by honorary princess Anke. I'm especially proud that we visited almost all the apartment buildings - the little old ladies were so happy to see the kids, even though they often stumbled over lines (you can see Luis/Melchior below, posing with the cheat-sheet), and only once could be convinced to earn the title "Star Singers". When the blessing was complete, one of the kids would write on the house (in chalk; all the houses are stone here): 20 + C*M*B + 09. I used to think the initials were for Caspar, Melichior and Balthazhar, the 3 kings, but I have learned it means Christus Mansionem Benedictat, or Christ Bless this House. The numbers, the year. On the local houses 
you could see years' worth of childish scribblings next to the door.People really got into it. Several people asked especially when we'd be s
topping by so they could be there. Some people going on vacation left an envelope with the neighbors. The only (moderately) unfriendly people we encountered were some self-avowed Protestants who just wanted to through a little money in and have the kids go away. Many more said "We're Protestant but we always love this!".We went out on two afternoons, Jan 3 and 4th, in bitter cold, and quit shortly before finishing up the entire street because it was threatening to snow (eventually paralyzing the lower Rhine with 5 inches of powder).
People were throwing in bills left and right. One little girl emptied her piggybank.
They collected almost 500 Euros. And about 10 pounds of treats, "to reward these sweet little boys". That was collected by the church and sent on to orphans in Romania (I'm not kidding about that!). The money when to African missions. The boys, despite the frozen noses and stingy-with-the-treats chaperone (me), all signed up for next year.
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